Parathyroid Gland and Kidney Stones - Topic Overview

The
parathyroid glands are four tiny glands located within
the thyroid gland in the neck. They produce parathyroid hormone, which helps
control the amount of
calcium in the blood. If your parathyroid gland is too
big (enlarged), it can cause your body to produce too much parathyroid hormone
(hyperparathyroidism). This may lead to too much calcium in the urine, which
makes it more likely that you will have calciumkidney stones.

If you get kidney stones because of enlarged parathyroid glands, your
doctor may suggest surgery to remove one or more of the glands
(parathyroidectomy).

Recommended Related to Kidney Stones

You can do many things to help prevent a recurrence of kidney stones. Knowing the stone's specific mineral composition can help determine which preventive steps are most likely to reduce your risk of getting another kidney stone. Check with your health care provider before making any major changes in your diet, but these general guidelines may be suggested depending on the type of kidney stone.
Drink 2 to 3 quarts of liquid every day. Drinking plenty of fluid is probably the most important...

In this procedure, you are given
general anesthesia and the surgeon makes an incision
in the front of your neck. He or she then finds the parathyroid glands,
determines their size, and removes any enlarged ones. In most people, there is
only one enlarged gland.

How long you stay in the hospital and how quickly you recover depend
on your age and general health. But many people leave the hospital a few days
after surgery. You typically can return to work and your normal activities in 1
to 2 weeks.

In this article

This information is produced and provided by the National
Cancer
Institute (NCI). The information in this topic may have changed since it was written. For the most current information, contact the National
Cancer
Institute via the Internet web site at http://
cancer
.gov or call 1-800-4-CANCER.

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated:
May 02, 2013

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor.
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